Poor Max?

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Her step dad usually would let her dogs out while she was at work, them all thinking nothing bad would happen, but as you can see, that was definately not the right assumption.

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It sounds like he would leave the dogs unsupervised. That's sad :( I don't understand why people would ever leave their dogs unleashed without supervision. That just asking for trouble.

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He never leaves the property, so I took him and the chis for a walk off leash. He chased a baby deer. He got shocked by an electric fence. And somehow (don't know when this possibly could have happened because he was only out of my sight for like 30 seconds at a time) he got skunked, or rolled in a skunk, or something.

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Since it sounds like you have a lot of land why don't you leash him when you go for walks so that he can't get into trouble. From your post it sounds like he has plenty of room to run and get tired while he's on your property.

I don't want this thread to get heated. I truly appreciate everybody on this forum. I think we are all unusually opinionated. Maybe that is a trait of animal lovers.

I don't want to get into a debate because, although we disagree on this particular issue, we are in agreement regarding so many other issues. We all love our animals and have a lot in common.

We should all just agree to disagree, don't you think?

As for me - I believe I will leash Max on walks off the property but allow him off leash, supervised, on our property as Uabassoon suggested.

stacwase Oh I agree nothing to get in a debate about. I think if you feel Max has good recall and feel safe about letting him loose close to home while he is supervised that is great. But I'd be careful taking him out more into the 'boonies' . I wouldn't want anything to happen to him! :)

Safety's somewhat of an illusion. The closest Oz came to getting hit by car was when he was on leash. When I walk him through the neighborhood, I always stop and step over to the curb when I hear a car coming and usually the cars will go wide around me. A few months ago, a car come so close to us, I could have reached out and touched it. Not sure what he was thinking. I was just lucky that Oz was sticking right next to me. One step away from me and he would have easily been hit.

If I lived out in the country, I wouldn't hesitate to let him off leash on my property supervised. Mainly, because he'd be working the farm with me.

Par...

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Originally posted by ParNone
Safety's somewhat of an illusion. The closest Oz came to getting hit by car was when he was on leash. When I walk him through the neighborhood, I always stop and step over to the curb when I hear a car coming and usually the cars will go wide around me. A few months ago, a car come so close to us, I could have reached out and touched it. Not sure what he was thinking. I was just lucky that Oz was sticking right next to me. One step away from me and he would have easily been hit.

If I lived out in the country, I wouldn't hesitate to let him off leash on my property supervised. Mainly, because he'd be working the farm with me.

Par...

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Gosh - it sounds like that person was TRYING to hurt Oz!

I really do feel llike safety is an illusion. I got Jake every single vaccine available. I gave him his heartworm medications, and just a month or so before he died I brought him to the vet and asked for a complete checkup. I kept him on a leash all the time (except on the trail, but he stayed right at my heel 100% of the time) , and brushed him regularly. I brought him on long walks and did everything I was supposed to do. I wanted him to live a good 16 years, like shelties are supposed to. And he died at only 7 1/2.

I am a little disgruntled about that. Can you tell?

Sadie almost got her head knocked off by a flying hub cap one time as we walked down a wide side walk. Some woman swerved too close too the curb (for no reason) and almost killed my dog. Sadie was on leash, we were as far from the street as possible, and I was closer to the street than she, but still this hub cap missed her by inches only.

Sadie is often off leash, supervised, in safe areas. I spent a lot of time training her to obey my commands despite temptation by a cat or squirrel. Because of that she won't run if the leash breaks or someone else leaves a door open. I feel she is more safe since she knows how to behave off leash.

stacwase, when I replied, I was hoping you wouldn't take my answer the wrong way. I live in an area not far from a very major roadway. I did, at one time, let Duke run loose. He used to stay on our 2 1/2 acres. But, he got to where he'd be gone for hours. I wish I'd had a camera on his head because I'd love to have seen his adventures. Anyway, he got to where he was chasing cars and that was it. Now, I look back and see how irresponsible I was. But, I think Max running loose on your property and long leash when on others is a great compromise.

No hard feelings!

I just wanted to let you guys know that I didn't just drop off the thread. I was at the farm, and a lot of junk has been going on. My husband is going to Iraq and we're in the middle of moving, and life's kind of a mess right now.

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Originally posted by stacwase





I was actually really worried about the electric fence. He got shocked while he was jumping over it, so then he was inside the field and I was worried he'd get shocked again coming out.

He's OK now - but does anybody know anything about those fences? How bad do they shock? Are they dangerous? I'm thinking I should call the farmer and ask him to turn it off when we go for our walks.

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I went down to see some horses on my street who are contained by a electric fence... and stupid me leaned over to pet the horse... and of course I touched it! Let me explain what it feels like so you dont get worried.

It felt like my leg muscle pounded my leg.... like a Jolt. It hurt for one second. I mean... it hurt but I didnt really fuss over it because it only hurt for like one second.

Just thought Id let you know so you dont get worried!

Carly

Max sounds like he loves the farm. What a great way to get some exercise and have him all tired and wore out in the evenings so everyone can relax. ;)

The farm sounds wonderful.

Robin :)

Thanks, swimma! That makes me feel better!

I remember when I was reallly little (like maybe 3 years old) my dad brought home a coyote that was tangled in a fence, dead. It really stuck in my mind, because he told me it was the big bad wolf. Anyways - when I got older I always thought it was an electric fence that killed it. I don't know for sure. I'm sure my dad doesn't remember. That's kind of why I was so worried.

I just thought i'd bring this up.. I was watching some sort of Emergency Animal Vets show last night....

It was a owner who had the same idea as you, stacwase.
Her dog ended up going after a deer.... and the deer kicked him and severely injured him.

I know you know my opinion already that it's not safe.. but I really DO care about Max and his safety, and i'm just using this as an example to you.

I'm coming in late for this thread but just another reason for not letting him run unsupervised. Here in Montana if a dog is seen chasing wildlife the wardens have the right to shoot the animal on sight no questions asked. The wildlife are "owned" by the state so they protect it.

E. fencing isn't that bad. Geez I have no idea how many times I've been shocked. 6-10 times to pet one horse in a field.

I got my crotch zapped on my aunts sheep farm as I was climbing over the fence, I slipped & fell on the top log where the e. wire was... lets just say ouch & my little cusans thought it was the funniest thing watching me, their older cuz, getting zapped down there & move SOOOOO quickly to get off the fence...

I'm such a slow person, never rush anything, but getting zapped down there causes u to have super powers in movement. :D :D :D

When I had Max he was NEVER EVER tied up. We lived beside a busy HWY inside of a town (with pop. its a city, but its still called a town when they claim to only have 9k pop.)

Max never chased anything he didn't have permission to chase or he never left his property (which was the neighbours yard too). The backyard wasn't fenced in, he would lay in the front yard while we sat on the steps & he would watch dogs bark at him as they walked by, kids running around (he loved totts), playing fetch in the park that was on the other side of the hwy.

I only had a leach on him in the parks so I wouldn't get in doo, by the evil park guys. I never held onto the leash tho. We would walk out of the house, he would run up to the hwy & sit & wait for me. he would heal as we crossed & then went in the direction I told him to go (left, right, or just point that way).

I took him for 3-6 hour walks in the bush where their r dozens of wild animals every where. If he saw something he would point to it & put his fur up & quickly look at me to see if it was ok to chase. 90% of the time I told him to chase it (get it, means chase it only, kill it, means attack it (was a needed tool against mutant squirrls, young coons, or anything else we ran into that was angry & wanted to eat me.. & it only worked on threatning ppl, if he was a push over I would not be here today, but he wouldn't just attack any person, he knew who was faking it & who wasn't).

I miss him so much.

stacwase, I think its supercool that you are living on a farm and Max gets the run of it :D I know my boy would love that! I disagree with keeping him onleash all of the time - youre basically walking around your backyard, its just larger than most. I would try working on his recall, working on him paying attention to you and focusing on you.. try randomly calling him to you during the walk (reward him with treats and praise), and make sure he stays near you and doesnt just wander off. I wouldnt worry too much about him getting confronted by a deer, cos theyre very fast and agile and can easily outrun your average doggy.

We just moved from a house that was right on a really huge, beautiful golf course and I used to always play ball and frisbee with Gonzo on it at night and I would run with him on the trails after the golfers went home. Kinda a similar situation. there were also lots of deer on the course at night, coyotes and raccoons, and some golfers stayed late so I had to always keep Gonzo in check. Every so often, especially if he was wandering too far, Id call him and run the other way and play chase with him, or call him to me and give him treats when he came. After a few weeks of consistent recall practice, he would stay within 10-20 feet of me at all times on the huge open golf course and still does off leash at any place. I so agree with you, dogs love freedom and they are so happy and content when they can just run with you in open spaces :) but safety is always a big priority, and dogs kinda get the "call of the wild" if theyre allowed to roam off leash without boundaries or training. Max also looks like a GSD mix, so he probably has some prey drive and will always have that urge to chase, but you can curb it with training. good luck :D Im definately not going to criticize you for giving your dog lots of good exercise and attention.